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Foods
Special Issues
Assessment and Control of Food Safety Risks
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Assessment and Control of Food Safety Risks

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Quality and Safety".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2026 | Viewed by 5371

Editors

Dr. Božidar Udovički

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Food Safety and Quality Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: food safety; monte carlo simulation, food modeling; food fraud; food safety hazards; risk assessment; control strategies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Nikola Tomic

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Food Safety and Quality Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: sensory evaluation of food; food quality; food safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Nada Smigic

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Food Safety and Quality Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: food microbiology; predictive microbiology; control strategies, food safety, food safety legislation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Risk assessment is essential in food safety, providing a scientific and systematic foundation for informed risk management decision-making. Modern agricultural practices, environmental pollution, industrialization, advanced food processing technologies, and climate change contribute to the increasing occurrence and co-occurrence of hazards throughout the food chain. In this context, effective control strategies are necessary to prevent, reduce, or eliminate food safety risks. These strategies not only protect public health but also support the fundamental human right to access safe, nutritious, sufficient, and affordable food.

This special issue welcomes original research articles and reviews on the following topics:

(i) Applications of food safety risk assessment, including cumulative risk assessment, biomonitoring studies, and exposure assessment approaches;
(ii) Investigations into the occurrence and distribution of food hazards, including the development of novel analytical methodologies for their detection, isolation, and quantification;
(iii) Preventive, control, and intervention strategies addressing biological, chemical, and physical hazards within the food chain.

Dr. Božidar Udovički
Prof. Dr. Nikola Tomic
Prof. Dr. Nada Smigic
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • food safety
  • exposure assessment
  • risk assessment
  • hazard occurrence
  • preventive measures
  • control measures

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 577 KB  
Article
Aflatoxin M1 in Milk from South–Central and Northwest China: Prevalence and Integrated Risk Characterization for Different Age-Sex Groups of Consumers
by Xue Zhang, Ting Zhang, Jie Zhang, Yinsheng Qiu, Qirong Lu, Jianglin Xiong and Chong Wang
Foods 2026, 15(12), 2102; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15122102 - 11 Jun 2026
Viewed by 399
Abstract
Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a Group 1 human carcinogen that poses a public health risk through milk contamination. This study investigated AFM1 contamination in pasteurized and ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk from south–central and northwest China, and assessed the associated health risks for consumers [...] Read more.
Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a Group 1 human carcinogen that poses a public health risk through milk contamination. This study investigated AFM1 contamination in pasteurized and ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk from south–central and northwest China, and assessed the associated health risks for consumers based on age, sex, and milk consumption scenarios. In total, 902 milk samples (493 pasteurized, 409 UHT) were collected during the summer and winter seasons of 2023–2024. AFM1 levels were determined using a validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. AFM1 was detected in 75.39% of samples (mean concentration, 12.35 ± 10.27 ng/L; maximum, 75.57 ng/L). While 1.55% of samples exceeded the EU maximum limit (50 ng/L), all complied with the Chinese limit (500 ng/L). Contamination was significantly higher in south–central China than northwest China, higher in winter than summer, and higher in pasteurized milk than UHT milk (p < 0.05). Preschool children in south–central China consuming 400 mL/day of milk are the group with the highest AFM11 exposure risk. And the margin of exposure and population risk of liver cancer suggested little carcinogenic risk. Therefore, targeted monitoring strategies for AFM1 in milk are recommended, along with dietary guidance for high-risk groups, especially vulnerable young children, to mitigate exposure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment and Control of Food Safety Risks)
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18 pages, 4750 KB  
Article
Migration of Diethyl-Hexyl-Phthalate from Plastic Containers and Oak Casks to Tequila During Long-Term Storage and Aging
by Jose Tomas Ornelas-Salas, Oscar F. Caselin-Garcia, Jose de Jesus Gomez-Guzman, Daniel Alcala-Sanchez, Juan Carlos Tapia-Picazo and Antonio De Leon-Rodríguez
Foods 2026, 15(8), 1380; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15081380 - 15 Apr 2026
Viewed by 797
Abstract
Tequila is frequently stored or aged in polymer containers and oak casks, which can enable the migration of phthalates such as di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), an endocrine-disrupting chemical. We quantified DEHP in tequila (55% ethanol) stored in LDPE tanks, HDPE jerry cans, PET carboys, [...] Read more.
Tequila is frequently stored or aged in polymer containers and oak casks, which can enable the migration of phthalates such as di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), an endocrine-disrupting chemical. We quantified DEHP in tequila (55% ethanol) stored in LDPE tanks, HDPE jerry cans, PET carboys, and French oak casks with and without thermal treatment during long-term storage/aging (up to 18 and 11 months, respectively). Monthly samples were extracted and analyzed by GC–MS. Migration kinetics were evaluated using empirical exponential/sigmoidal models and an analytical solution of Fick’s second law for a semi-infinite slab. In plastics, DEHP increased nonlinearly and was best described by a modified Gompertz model, exhibiting a lag phase up to 42 days (~month 2), maximum transfer rates (Rmax) up to 0.82 µg L−1 day−1, and late-time concentrations near 120 µg L−1. The non-toasted oak cask previously used for wine showed exponential behavior, reaching ~185 µg L−1 and fitting the Minchev–Minkov model, whereas the toasted cask showed minimal transfer. Although concentrations remained below a reference safety limit (1500 µg kg−1), the results indicate that food-contact plastics and commonly used oak casks are not risk-free under prolonged contact, supporting model-based forecasting for quality control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment and Control of Food Safety Risks)
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11 pages, 1481 KB  
Article
Ensuring Gluten-Free Safety: A Descriptive Analysis of Laboratory Results and Quality Control
by Roberta Giugliano, Laura Migone, Bianca Saccheggiani, Simona Mella and Elisabetta Razzuoli
Foods 2026, 15(7), 1144; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15071144 - 26 Mar 2026
Viewed by 642
Abstract
Ensuring the safety of gluten-free foods is essential for individuals with coeliac disease and other gluten-related disorders, for whom even minimal gluten exposure can cause adverse effects; this study aimed to evaluate the long-term compliance of gluten-free labeled foods marketed in Italy. A [...] Read more.
Ensuring the safety of gluten-free foods is essential for individuals with coeliac disease and other gluten-related disorders, for whom even minimal gluten exposure can cause adverse effects; this study aimed to evaluate the long-term compliance of gluten-free labeled foods marketed in Italy. A total of 4139 pre-packaged gluten-free products were collected between 2015 and 2024 and analyzed using validated analytical methods. Products were categorized into macro-categories: cereal-based foods, processed non-cereal-based foods, confectionery, flours, baby foods, and dietary supplements. A descriptive analysis and risk modeling were generated to visualize relative risks. Overall non-compliance remained consistently very low (<1%) throughout the 10-year period, with an average rate of 0.27% and minor peaks in 2016 and 2018. The highest frequencies of gluten contamination were observed in cereal-based products and flours-particularly corn flour-while occasional non-compliance occurred in some processed non-cereal-based foods and confectionery; no non-compliance was detected in baby foods or dietary supplements. These findings are reassuring and consistent with, or better than, available EU data, confirming the effectiveness of current control systems and highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring, validated analytical methods and effective allergen management strategies. Strengthened collaboration among regulators and manufacturers remains essential to prevent cross-contamination and protect consumer health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment and Control of Food Safety Risks)
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Review

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20 pages, 868 KB  
Review
Food Fraud Implications and Regulatory Challenges in South Africa: A Review
by Likentso Sylvia Shuping and Kgomotso Lebelo
Foods 2026, 15(8), 1282; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15081282 - 8 Apr 2026
Viewed by 1302
Abstract
Food fraud has emerged as a significant and under-recognised public health threat, with documented global incidents resulting in severe illness, hospitalisations, and fatalities. International estimates suggest that up to 9% of the global food trade is adulterated. In South Africa, evidence of mislabelling, [...] Read more.
Food fraud has emerged as a significant and under-recognised public health threat, with documented global incidents resulting in severe illness, hospitalisations, and fatalities. International estimates suggest that up to 9% of the global food trade is adulterated. In South Africa, evidence of mislabelling, substitution, counterfeit products, illicit trade, and the use of unauthorised additives continues to surface, yet the national burden and regulatory response remain insufficiently characterised. This review synthesised peer-reviewed literature and articles from reputable South African media sources published from 2015 to December 2025, focusing on food fraud within the South African context. Searches were conducted across Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, and PubMed, supplemented by Google Scholar and the EU Food Fraud Database, with emphasis on studies reporting fraud associated with South African food products. Standard PRISMA procedures guided the final selection of fifteen (14) eligible articles. These studies reveal widespread food fraud driven mainly by economic gain. Common practices include substituting high-value products, mislabelling meat and seafood, altering dates on expired goods, and producing counterfeits with unauthorised additives and packaging. Collectively, these factors compromise consumer health, undermine industry integrity, and impede effective surveillance. Strengthening South Africa’s food fraud prevention ecosystem will require coordinated multisectoral engagement, targeted investment in detection technologies, and robust regulatory reforms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment and Control of Food Safety Risks)
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34 pages, 1364 KB  
Review
Veterinary Drug Residues in Food Chains: Sources, Exposure Pathways, Health Impacts, Mitigation, and Safety Assurance
by Yiting Wang, Jiacan Wang, Linwei Zhang, Shiyun Han, Xiaoming Pan, Hao Wen, Hongfei Yang, Xu Wang and Dapeng Peng
Foods 2026, 15(5), 840; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15050840 - 3 Mar 2026
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1499
Abstract
The residues of veterinary drugs in the food chain are a global concern for food safety, including questions about the origin of these residues, exposure pathways, health impacts, methods for their dissolution, and accurate monitoring methods. In recent years, numerous professional studies have [...] Read more.
The residues of veterinary drugs in the food chain are a global concern for food safety, including questions about the origin of these residues, exposure pathways, health impacts, methods for their dissolution, and accurate monitoring methods. In recent years, numerous professional studies have addressed the above concerns from various perspectives. However, these studies are relatively scattered and cannot provide a systematic and comprehensive understanding of recent developments. In this systematic review, we aim to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the current state of knowledge concerning the residues of veterinary drugs in the food chain through critical examination of their origins, exposure pathways, and associated health/environmental hazards. Investigating creative mitigation techniques to lower such residues in food products is given special attention. In summary, this research proposes a paradigm that balances the development of animal production with strict food safety governance to address productivity, consumer health, and international standards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment and Control of Food Safety Risks)
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